Toyota says local operations normal despite Japan stoppage

MANILA, Philippines – Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. announced yesterday that the company’s local operations are still normal despite the work stoppage in Japan as a result of the twin disasters.

In a letter to Board of Investments (BOI) vice chairman and managing head Cristino L. Panlilio, Toyota president Michinobu Sugata said the overall impact on Toyota operations cannot be determined yet. However, Toyota promised that they will update the government on new developments.

“To date, the completely knocked down (CKD) production is still under normal operations. However, TMP is currently studying the overall parts supply situation in coordination with Toyota headquarters and our local parts suppliers,” Sugata said.

TMP vice president Rommel T. Gutierrez yesterday reported that the Nagoya plant is still closed.

Sugata in his letter said the halt in vehicle production was due to the difficulty in procuring parts, among others. The production of parts like replacement parts and parts for overseas production in some plants resumed last week.

In terms of ASEAN operations, Sugata said they have no information as to the specific impact on other ASEAN production bases at this time. In general, Toyota operations are making adjustments considering the current situation in Japan. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)